of the 14 kharif crops for which the Centre a minimum support price (MSP) every year is unlikely plant called niger or ramtil (Guizotia This lesser known oilseed commands one of highest MSPs, fixed on the basis of the cost of and market demand. the area under its cultivation has been steadily over the past three decades. In 1985-86, niger cultivated on around 0.6 million hectares (ha). In the cultivated area shrunk by 80 per cent to a over 0.1 million ha, the lowest among the 14 kharif with MSP. primary reason such a sparsely grown crop is part of exclusive MSP list is because niger seed has “been the lifeline of tribal agriculture and in several states across India. tribal population uses niger seed oil for cooking, press cake post oil-extraction as livestock feed, and consume the seeds as a condiment. Niger seed oil medicinal properties, which is the reason for its demand by the cosmetics, perfumeries and allied industries.